What is the scientific designation for Pacific whiting, commonly known as Pacific hake?
Answer
Merluccius productus
The specific species central to the North American commercial fishery is the Pacific whiting, which is scientifically designated as Merluccius productus. This designation is critical because its management, feeding ecology, and population dynamics are tracked separately from other species referred to generally as whiting. It is important to distinguish this species from the European whiting (*Merlangius merlangus*) or the false hake (*Urophycis tenuis*), even though all fall under the broader umbrella term 'whiting' due to their slender, white-fleshed characteristics inherited from the Gadidae family.
Related Questions
What is the scientific designation for Pacific whiting, commonly known as Pacific hake?What food source dominates the diet of juvenile Pacific whiting before they mature into large predators?What ecological role is firmly established for whiting based on their consumption patterns in the marine food web?Where is the European whiting, designated as Merlangius merlangus, primarily located geographically?What condition necessitates a downward adjustment in the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) calculation for Pacific whiting stocks?Which prey category is listed as being critical for rapid growth in adult whiting, associated with high-calorie intake?How can observing the stomach contents of whiting over multiple years provide actionable information to fishery scientists?What distinct entity, despite its common name, is mentioned as not being a true hake alongside Pacific whiting?What factor, influenced entirely by the fish's recent diet, can cause a subtle difference in the flavor profile of fresh whiting purchased by a home cook?Why is applying the management model derived for Pacific hake (*Merluccius productus*) to European whiting (*Merlangius merlangus*) considered scientifically unsound?